Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-05-13
Odd Things in China.

Odd Things in China.
The highest ambition of q Chinese
gentleman is to have nice coffin and
fine funeral
They feed their friends sumptuous-
ly when dead, but let them take care
of themselves the best they could
while living.
Old women instead of the young
are the idle bellies of society.
The highest recommendation a
young man can have is the fact of his
having wife.
A bachelor is likened to a counter
felt coin; he is looked upon with sus.
picion even by members of his own
household,
Love making is only done three
days after marriage 1t is not only
considered the safest way to get
ahead of rival, but the surest way
to get wife without losing much
time.
A previous acquaintanceship be-
tween the male and female prevents
them from marriage For this reason
man seldom weds a girl of his own
town They are likewise prevented
from marrying kins or namesakes.
Joneses are not allowed to marry
Joneses, nor Smiths to marry
Smiths.
A girl is never considered anything
else in her own fathers house than a
guest. She is neither responsible for
the fathers debts nor enjoys share
in it's fortunes, as in the case of
sons.
Daughters depend upon their hus-
hands for fame and fortune, while
sons depend upon their parents and
themselves
A man could borrow money on the
strength Of his having son, but no
one would advance him a cent if he
had dozen of daughters. The form
er is responsible for the debts of his
father for three generations. The
latter is only responsible for the
debts OF her own husband.
When Chinaman meets another
he shakes and squeezes his own hand,
and covers his head. If great friends
had not seen each other for a long
time, after the mutual shaking
they would rub shoulders until they
become tired, Instead Of asking each
others health they would say: "Have
you eaten your rice, where are you
going, what is your business when
you get there, how old are you, and
how much did you pay for your
shoes?"
Men wear long petticoats and
carry fans while women wear short
jackets and carry canes.
Boats are drawn by horses, car
riages are moved by sails.
Old men play ball and fly kites,
while children fold their hands and
look on.
Schoolmasters have moro power
over the young than parents. If
within three years. schooling the
child is not morally as well as intel.
lectually reformed, he is sent to en-
other school.
Parents and spectators instead OF
the children are held responsible for
crimes committed by the latter.
at is better to be ignorant and
know how to live, than to be learned
and not know how to live. The
principal object OF the school is to
learn how to live in tranquility and
happiness and nothing more" So
say all Chinese scholars.
1t is q much lesser crime to steal
your neigbbor's OK than to steal his
dog. The former is simply personal
property, while the latter takes the
place Of mana watchman.
If Chinaman desires the death of
an enemy he goes and hangs himself
upon his neighbors door. 1t is a
sure cure to kill not only that partic-
lar enemy, but members of his entire
family are in jeopardy of losing their
lives.
When O Chinaman desires q visi-
tor to dine with him he does not ask
him to do so, but when he does not
wish him to stay he puts the ques-
ton, ooh, please stay and dine with
mel" The visitor will then know be
is not wanted.
A rich mans servant gets no sala-
ry, yet many applicants; while big
salaries are paid to the servants of
the common people but few make ap-
plications. The perquisites of the
former are often more than the sala-
ries OF the latter, and are the sole
reasons or these differences,
When q Chinaman expects pre-
sent and it does not come, he sends
one Of lesser value,
TO encourage honesty and sinceri-
ty, confidential clerks and statesmen
in all branches Of industries receive
al annual net percentage of the firms
business besides their regular sala-
ries.